It’s your Space, Make it Safe” campaign
Released by The Paraffin Safety Association of Southern Africa (PASASA) on 23 June 2011.
The Paraffin Safety Association announces the launch of its annual National Winter Home Energy Safety campaign under the theme “It’s your Space, Make it Safe”.
The aim of the campaign is to avert energy related incidents and injuries in households and communities. It is a call to all to be aware of risks related to household energy usage and to take specific actions to make their space safer.
The highlights of the campaign will include a launch event that will take place at Shongi City Sports ground, Tudor Street, Soul City Informal Settlement in West Rand on 28 June 2011 from 9:30 am to 13:00 pm. At the launch we will conduct a public shack fire simulation where we will carefully record how fire starts in shacks, how fast it moves and the temperatures involved. We have invited dignitaries such as the Mayor of West Rand District Municipality, the Department of Energy and others.
Similar events will also be held in Durban, Bochabelo and Cape Town in partnership with municipalities there.
As a result of partnership with SABC, we will be airing energy safety tips on 5 radio stations, namely Thobela Fm, Lesedi Fm, Motsweding Fm, UMHLOBO WENENE Fm, and UKHOZI Fm over a period of 20 days. There will also be a phone-in competition at the end of the campaign on all 5 radio stations with a prize valued at R5000.00 for each station.
Announcing the campaign launch, Mr Glenn Truran, the General Manager of the Paraffin SAFETY Association said “Winter has arrived with a vengeance and many household appliances are being used unsafely. As a result, many shacks are burning, people are being injured and killed and households are being destroyed. PASASA, with the help of the WRDM and the UJ, will be launching this campaign with a shack fire simulation to show how easily fires start and spread. We are delighted to have Ms Andile Gaelesiwe, the presenter of one of the most watched shows in South African television history, Khumbul’eKaya, as an integral part of the campaign.”
For more information please visit PASASA website at www.paraffinsafety.org .
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Released by The Paraffin Safety Association of Southern Africa (PASASA) on 6 July 2011.
Safety Tip No.6: Only buy paraffin appliances that have passed the tests making them safe. Illegal, unsafe appliances can harm and kill you.
Background
Winter has arrived with a vengeance and many household appliances are being used unsafely. As a result, many shacks are burning, people are being injured and killed and households are being destroyed.
As part of the 2011 “It’s your Space, Make it Safe” National Paraffin Safety Winter Campaign, PASASA is focusing on a daily safety tip for twenty days, ensuring that households are aware of;
· their risk profile and the danger their household is in
· the need to act immediately and have a household safety plan that is known by everyone in the household
· the fact that illegal appliances are very dangerous and safe appliances need to be operated properly and carefully
· the fact that children suffer the most and need special care and protection
· other general safety tips
This document expands on the daily safety tip for 6 July - Safety Tip No.6: Only buy paraffin appliances that have passed the tests making them safe. Illegal, unsafe appliances can harm and kill you.
For more information the PASASA Sharecall number will be open during office hours (0861 22 44 22) and the public can also sms 32377, email requests for information to info@paraffinsafety.org or visit PASASA website at www.paraffinsafety.org .
Safety Tip No.6
Did you know that paraffin and jet fuel are almost the same thing? The only real difference is that Jet fuel has antifreeze in it so that the fuel will not freeze at high altitudes and cause an accident.
Like a jet plane or even a car, an appliance is just like a machine – if it does not work properly, reliably and safely, it can cause serious harm or danger. That is why it is so important to only buy paraffin appliances that have passed the SABS tests and standards that make sure they are safe.
PASASA staff have checked what appliances are on sale all over the country. Sadly, it appears that over 90% of stoves and heaters found in stores are illegal. Illegal appliances have not passed the test against the national standard set out by South African Bureau of Standards (SABS). As a result, they do not comply with the regulations enforced by the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS). If the NRCS catches up with the suppliers and retailers selling these appliances, they will be prosecuted. The consumer protection act will also hopefully help eliminate these terrible appliances. For now, they remain a reality in stores and consumers need to be aware.
For a better understanding of standards and regulations as they apply to paraffin appliances, please refer to “The status of paraffin appliances in South Africa – October 2008” on the PASASA website.
Illegal appliances are so dangerous because they are poorly designed and made, causing them to often erupts into flames during normal operation or when knocked over. Typical flaws with illegal appliances include;
· The fuel in the reservoir (fuel tank) gets too hot. It becomes gaseous and the simple movement of lifting a pot off the stove can then cause it to erupt into flames
· The appliances leak easily, especially when knocked over
· When knocked over there is no safety feature to extinguish the flame
· The appliance is made from thin, soft metal and bends out of shape and corrodes easily, leading to failure
· There are no clear safe operating instructions meaning that the appliance could be used incorrectly (remember the analogy with a jet plane or a car).
· They come from factories with poor or no quality control. They sometimes arrive broken. They are very unreliable and do not continue to work as they should.
It is much safer to only use safe, legal appliances that are better designed and manufactured and have less chance of causing harmful or fatal accidents.
We are calling on all media to assist us with this very important public safety education campaign by highlighting the events and providing daily attention to the daily safety tips during the course of the campaign.
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Safe appliances will not place you at risk of fires
Released by The Paraffin Safety Association of Southern Africa (PASASA) on 7 July 2011.
Released by The Paraffin Safety Association of Southern Africa (PASASA) on 7 July 2011.
Safety Tip No.7: Safe appliances will not place you at risk of fires. Follow the operating instructions carefully to prevent a fire.
Background
Winter has arrived with a vengeance and many household appliances are being used unsafely. As a result, many shacks are burning, people are being injured and killed and households are being destroyed.
As part of the 2011 “It’s your Space, Make it Safe” National Paraffin Safety Winter Campaign, PASASA is focusing on a daily safety tip for twenty days, ensuring that households are aware of;
· their risk profile and the danger their household is in
· the need to act immediately and have a household safety plan that is known by everyone in the household
· the fact that illegal appliances are very dangerous and safe appliances need to be operated properly and carefully
· the fact that children suffer the most and need special care and protection
· other general safety tips
This document expands on the daily safety tip for 7 July - Safety Tip No.7: Safe appliances will not place you at risk of fires. Follow the operating instructions carefully to prevent a fire.
For more information the PASASA Sharecall number will be open during office hours (0861 22 44 22) and the public can also sms 32377, email requests for information to info@paraffinsafety.org or visit PASASA website at www.paraffinsafety.org .
Safety Tip No.7
The South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has developed several safety standards for paraffin appliances. This includes separate safety standards for wick-based and pressurized appliances. The SABS standards specify that safe paraffin appliances should:
· not leak
· self-extinguish if knocked over
· guarantee that the fuel tank does not overheat
· prevent harmful emissions
· be sturdy and stable
· be able to support pots and pans
· be unable to be filled when in use
· not burst into flames(conflagration)
· not burn the user when controls touched
All paraffin appliances should be packaged safely to prevent damage to the appliance and its components and fittings during normal transportation and handling. The appliance shall bear the following information in legible, indelible marking:
a) the name or trademark of the manufacturer and the country of origin;
b) the manufacturer’s model name and type number or both, followed by in the case of a space heating appliance, the words "Dangerous: Do not use as a COOKER", and in the case of a cooking appliance, the words "Dangerous: Do not use as a HEATER";
c) the manufacturer’s batch number; and
d) the words "USE DOMESTIC PARAFFIN ONLY".
The appliance manufacturer shall supply written instructions and warnings in a booklet accompanying the appliance concerning its safe use and operation. These shall be written in English and have sufficient pictograms to ensure understanding.
The manufacturer's instructions shall include the following:
· There must be no flammable substance near or above the appliance when in operation (1 metre at least).
· Use uncontaminated paraffin only
· Make sure there is ventilation bringing fresh air into the room
· Switch off and leave to cool before moving or refuelling the appliance
· Put out / switch off appliance before leaving the room or going to bed
· Before lighting the stove, ensure that all the components are undamaged and properly assembled in accordance with the design
· Place the stove on a reasonably level surface to ensure either uniform wetting of wicks or uniform flow of paraffin in the wick-trough
· Store the paraffin on a high shelf in a paraffin safety container for the safety of children
· Always use a funnel when pouring paraffin to prevent any spillage
· Do not introduce water into the fuel container
· Instructions for the maintenance and servicing of the appliance to ensure optimum operation
· Switch off and leave to cool before moving or refuelling the appliance
· Put out / switch off appliance before leaving the room or going to bed
For a better understanding of standards and regulations as they apply to paraffin appliances, please refer to “The status of paraffin appliances in South Africa – October 2008” on the PASASA website.
We are calling on all media to assist us with this very important public safety education campaign by highlighting the events and providing daily attention to the daily safety tips during the course of the campaign.
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Maintain your paraffin appliance
Released by The Paraffin Safety Association of Southern Africa (PASASA) on 7 July 2011.
Safety Tip No.8: Maintain your paraffin appliance according to the instruction manual to make sure it will work safely and not cause a fire.
Background
Winter has arrived with a vengeance and many household appliances are being used unsafely. As a result, many shacks are burning, people are being injured and killed and households are being destroyed.
As part of the 2011 “It’s your Space, Make it Safe” National Paraffin Safety Winter Campaign, PASASA is focusing on a daily safety tip for twenty days, ensuring that households are aware of;
· their risk profile and the danger their household is in
· the need to act immediately and have a household safety plan that is known by everyone in the household
· the fact that illegal appliances are very dangerous and safe appliances need to be operated properly and carefully
· the fact that children suffer the most and need special care and protection
· other general safety tips
This document expands on the daily safety tip for 8 July - Safety Tip No.8: Maintain your paraffin appliance according to the instruction manual to make sure it will work safely and not cause a fire.
For more information the PASASA Sharecall number will be open during office hours (0861 22 44 22) and the public can also sms 32377, email requests for information to info@paraffinsafety.org or visit PASASA website at www.paraffinsafety.org .
Safety Tip No.8
All paraffin appliances should be packaged safely to prevent damage to the appliance and its components and fittings during normal transportation and handling. The appliance shall bear the following information in legible, indelible marking:
a) the name or trademark of the manufacturer and the country of origin;
b) the manufacturer’s model name and type number or both, followed by in the case of a space heating appliance, the words "Dangerous: Do not use as a COOKER", and in the case of a cooking appliance, the words "Dangerous: Do not use as a HEATER";
c) the manufacturer’s batch number; and
d) the words "USE DOMESTIC PARAFFIN ONLY".
The appliance manufacturer shall supply written instructions and warnings in a booklet accompanying the appliance concerning its safe use and operation. These shall be written in English and have sufficient pictograms to ensure understanding.
The manufacturer's instructions shall include the following:
· Important safety warning
· Assembly, safe use, maintenance and operation of appliance
How to fill the paraffin stove with paraffin
· Instructions for lighting and using the paraffin stove
· Controlling the flame of the appliance while in use
For a better understanding of standards and regulations as they apply to paraffin appliances, please refer to “The status of paraffin appliances in South Africa – October 2008” on the PASASA website.
We are calling on all media to assist us with this very important public safety education campaign by highlighting the events and providing daily attention to the daily safety tips during the course of the campaign.
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Keep flammable objects safely away
Keep flammable objects safely away
Released by The Paraffin Safety Association of Southern Africa (PASASA) on 11 July 2011.
Safety Tip No.9: Keep flammable objects safely away from appliances that are turned on - at least one and a half metres.
Background
Winter has arrived with a vengeance and many household appliances are being used unsafely. As a result, many shacks are burning, people are being injured and killed and households are being destroyed.
As part of the 2011 “It’s your Space, Make it Safe” National Paraffin Safety Winter Campaign, PASASA is focusing on a daily safety tip for twenty days, ensuring that households are aware of:
· their risk profile and the danger their household is in
· the need to act immediately and have a household safety plan that is known by everyone in the household
· the fact that illegal appliances are very dangerous and safe appliances need to be operated properly and carefully
· the fact that children suffer the most and need special care and protection
· other general safety tips
This document expands on the daily safety tip for 11 July - Safety Tip No.9: Keep flammable objects safely away from appliances that are turned on - at least one and a half metres.
For more information, the PASASA Sharecall number will be open during office hours (0861 22 44 22) and the public can also sms 32377, email requests for information to info@paraffinsafety.org or visit PASASA website at www.paraffinsafety.org .
Safety Tip No.9 Keep flammable objects safely away from appliances that are turned on - at least one and a half metres.
Fires occur when there is a combination of fuel, heat and oxygen (a gas present in the air). A chemical reaction occurs resulting in heat being given off. Very high temperatures can cause serious damage to the body and to property. There are many fuels present in homes such as wood, plastic, clothing, furniture to name but a few. It is important to keep these substances away from naked flames especially those that are flammable (catches alight very quickly and burns rapidly). Many fires in homes occur because flammable substances come into close contact with paraffin stoves and heaters, candles or even electric bar heaters.
Here are some examples of high risk situations:
· curtains are blown onto a paraffin stove situated close to a window
· a mothers scarf or blouse touches the flame of the paraffin stove while cooking
· a naked candle is knocked over and sets a table cloth alight
· a child walks past a bar heater and her gown touches the hot element
Always keep flammable materials away from flames or heaters. When cooking, wear appropriate clothing – not loose hanging garments. Keep candles in a jar half-filled with dry sand. Always supervise children when there is a flame or hot object (like a heater) in the home. They should always remain a safe distance away.
Remember: flammable materials when burnt melt and stick to the skin. Cool the burn with cool water. Do not pull any material off from the injured body.
We are calling on all media to assist us with this very important public safety education campaign by highlighting the events and providing daily attention to the daily safety tips during the course of the campaign.
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Paraffin Appliances should be switched off and left to cool
Paraffin Appliances should be switched off and left to cool
Released by The Paraffin Safety Association of Southern Africa (PASASA) on 12 July 2011.
Safety Tip No.10: Paraffin Appliances must be switched off and left to cool for at least 15 minutes before refuelling or moving them.
Paraffin Appliances like heaters and stoves must be switched off and left to cool for at least 15 minutes before refuelling or moving them for the following reasons:
If paraffin is cool it is very safe. Paraffin will only burn when it is hotter than its flashpoint (430 Celsius in South Africa). If an appliance gets very hot and the fuel inside the appliance gets hotter than 430 Celsius, it could erupt into flames. The hot fuel inside the fuel tank (or reservoir) can become gaseous at high temperatures (like water becoming steam). If it is shaken or air that is rich with oxygen is suddenly introduced, everything that is needed for a fire is present. A fire needs heat, oxygen and fuel. When hot paraffin is in a gaseous state and oxygen is suddenly introduced, it will erupt into flames. That is why it is so important to allow the appliance to cool off when it is shut down before you try and refuel it or move it. Refuelling runs the risk of introducing a rush of oxygen rich air into the mix. Moving it may have the effect of shaking up the fuel and allowing it to mix with oxygen rich air.
A second very important reason why paraffin should not be moved or refuelled until it has had a chance to cool down is because sometimes, when appliances are switched off, a little flame may still “dance” around the wick, burning of the unused, hot paraffin that has been absorbed in the wick. It is much safer to simply wait for the appliance to cool down and get well bellow 430 Celsius.
It may be the difference between life and death.
We are calling on all media to assist us with communicating this very important safety tip to the attention of the public.
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